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Protesters want Oklahoma to get back to work, say coronavirus restrictions are too strict

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Updated: 8:07 PM CDT Apr 15, 2020

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DILLON: IT WAS. THE PROTEST WAS MOSTLY IN CARS. PEOPLE WERE DRIVING AROUND, HONKING HORNS. BEFORE THEY CAME HERE, THEY GATHERED AT PENN SQUARE MALL. THAT GATHERING SEEN FROM SKY FIVE. PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS IN CLEAR VIOLATION OF SOCIAL DISTANCING ORDERS FROM THE CITY AND THE STATE. THIS WAS ADVERTISED AS AN AUTO RALLY. PEOPLE ENCOURAGED TO STAY IN THEIR CARS. I TALKED TO ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS LORI GRACEY. WERE YOU EXPECTING EVERYONE TO BE OUT OF THEIR CARS AND GATHERED LIKE THIS? >> THEY’RE FREE CITIZENS TO DO AS THEY’D LIKE, AND IF THEY CHOOSE TO GET OUT OF THEIR CARS AND WALK AROUND, WE ARE LIKE I SAID, WE ARE JUST CITIZENS WE ARE NOT AN ACTIVIST GROUP. DILLON: AT THE CAPITOL, MOST PEOPLE STAYED IN THEIR CARS WITH SUCH STRICT RULES FOR SO LONG. >> THOSE WHO ARE HELPING, THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY WALKING AROUND. WHO WILL PAY THE RENT? THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GO BACK TO WORK. THAT’S WHO. >> WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A NEW SURGE. WE HAVE TO KEEP ON THIS PATH. DILLON: THEY ARE LOOKING AT HOW TO SAFELY REOPEN BUSINESSES AND LIFT RESTRICTIONS, BUT THAT WILL BE DONE IN CONSULTATION WITH OFFICIALS WHO ARE IN LOCKSTEP, SAYING THE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE

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Protesters want Oklahoma to get back to work, say coronavirus restrictions are too strict

A group of protesters gathered at the state Capitol on Wednesday to spread the message that Oklahoma needs to get back to work as soon as possible and that the coronavirus restrictions are too strict.Public health officials, however, said the restrictions in place are people's best chance at limiting the spread of the virus. The protest started with supporters gathering outside Penn Square Mall, where people got out of their cars -- in clear violation of social distancing orders from the city and state."They're free citizens to do as they'd like," organizer Lori Gracey said, "and if they choose to get out of their cars and walk around, we are ... just citizens. We are not an activist group."After leaving the mall, most people stayed inside their vehicles when they got to the Capitol. The group's argument was that Oklahoma doesn't need such strict rules."Those who are healthy, there shouldn't be any blocking them getting out doing their job, because who's going to earn the living? Who's going to buy the meals? Who's going to pay the rent? The people who need to be back at work, that's who," Gracey said.Gov. Kevin Stitt responded to the rally, saying, "I know Oklahomans are frustrated, ready to get life back to normal. Our plan is to do it safely.""But we have to continue this social distancing to make sure we don't have a new surge," Stitt said. "We have to keep on this path through April 30."The governor also told KOCO 5 that even though he said Oklahoma's COVID-19 projections have started to look better, it's not time to take our foot off the gas. And even as state and health officials look at how to reopen the state, right now, it's time to keep social distancing.

OKLAHOMA CITY —

A group of protesters gathered at the state Capitol on Wednesday to spread the message that Oklahoma needs to get back to work as soon as possible and that the coronavirus restrictions are too strict.

Public health officials, however, said the restrictions in place are people's best chance at limiting the spread of the virus.

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The protest started with supporters gathering outside Penn Square Mall, where people got out of their cars -- in clear violation of social distancing orders from the city and state.

"They're free citizens to do as they'd like," organizer Lori Gracey said, "and if they choose to get out of their cars and walk around, we are ... just citizens. We are not an activist group."

After leaving the mall, most people stayed inside their vehicles when they got to the Capitol. The group's argument was that Oklahoma doesn't need such strict rules.

"Those who are healthy, there shouldn't be any blocking them getting out doing their job, because who's going to earn the living? Who's going to buy the meals? Who's going to pay the rent? The people who need to be back at work, that's who," Gracey said.

Gov. Kevin Stitt responded to the rally, saying, "I know Oklahomans are frustrated, ready to get life back to normal. Our plan is to do it safely."

"But we have to continue this social distancing to make sure we don't have a new surge," Stitt said. "We have to keep on this path through April 30."

The governor also told KOCO 5 that even though he said Oklahoma's COVID-19 projections have started to look better, it's not time to take our foot off the gas. And even as state and health officials look at how to reopen the state, right now, it's time to keep social distancing.